其 他 安 全 警 示
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| Canada : Citalopram - Health Canada reviewing dose-related heart risk (English Only) |
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Health Canada announced it is reviewing the heart-related safety of the prescription antidepressant citalopram. The review is in light of new study data suggesting that high doses (60mg/day) can affect the electrical activity of the heart. The changes in electrical activity could potentially lead to serious, possibly fatal abnormal heart rhythms.
Health Canada is currently reviewing the available data and assessing the need for revised dosing recommendations. New safety information will be communicated once the review is complete.
Please refer to the following website in Health Canada for details:
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media/advisories-avis/_2011/2011_134-eng.php
In Hong Kong, a total of 17 citalopram-containing products are registered and all are prescription-only medicines. The above safety news has been released by the US FDA and was posted on the website of the Drug Office on 25 August 2011. A letter for healthcare professionals was issued on the same day. The matter was discussed in the meeting of Registration Committee of the Pharmacy and Poisons Board on 6 September 2011. The Committee decided that the labelling of products containing citalopram should include information regarding the abnormal heart rhythm associated with high doses of citalopram and that the maximum daily dosage of citalopram is 40mg per day.
Ends/ Saturday 15 October 2011
Issued at HKT 11:00am
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